Freedom Takes Flight: A Review of Amplify Origins at Arts Commons

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)

On a breezy June evening in Calgary, the Engineered Air Theatre at Arts Commons transformed into a departure lounge unlike any other: welcome aboard Freedom Airlines. Presented as part of the Amplify Origins: Freedom showcase, the night brought together the latest cohort of the Arts Commons TD Incubator program: Robert Adam, Bella Rios Romero, Duke Domino, and Jackal Morose. In a series of solo and ensemble performances woven together through movement, storytelling, and musical genre-bending, these artists delivered more than just a showcase, they gave us theatre, ritual, and community in full flight.

At its core, Amplify Origins is about exploration—of self, of identity, of creative possibility. This year’s theme, Freedom, wasn’t just a slogan, but a structure through which each artist could reimagine the performance space on their own terms. The event unfolded like a conceptual journey, inviting the audience to follow along as each artist “boarded” their flight with suitcase in hand, bringing pieces of their past, hopes for their future, and everything in between.

The night opened with a group rendition of 4 Non Blondes’ “What’s Up,” a fitting anthem of angst and longing that quickly gave way to a Cuban ballad led by Bella Rios. It was a tonal shift that anchored the show’s emotional heart early on, with Duke Domino and Robert Adam ceremonially pouring water into glasses and offering them to the crowd, a poignant and symbolic act that felt like a blessing. Bella opened the performance sharing her backstory, saying “my heart is in the East, but my feet are in the West,” as she weaved the influences that contribute to the fabric of her artistry, or as she exampled, the “echoes of ancestors, as a bridge between the seen and the unseen.”

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)

Robert Adam’s set was no less poetic. With a country twang and angel wings strapped to their back, they brought levity and magic to the stage. Their latest single, “Moonlight Magic,” was delivered with confidence and charm, but it was the addition of an ocarina (a small, flute-like instrument) that turned their set into something mythic. The blending of rural aesthetics with celestial imagery gave Robert’s performance a surreal edge. It felt like a nod to the tradition of storytelling in country music, but flipped on its head—infused with camp, humour, and self-awareness.

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)

Duke Domino served as a vibrant anchor throughout the night. Whether solo or sharing the stage, his presence was charismatic, magnetic, and culturally affirming. Duke repeatedly shouted out his Filipino heritage, proudly celebrating it in dialogue, gesture, and even in food, at one point enlisting Bella and Jackal to hand out Jollibee to delighted audience members. These gestures, while playful, also underscored how representation doesn’t need to be didactic to be powerful.

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)

But perhaps one of the night’s most jaw-dropping moments belonged to Jackal Morose. In a genre-defying drag performance that included both live vocals and classic lip-syncs, Jackal took us on a theatrical journey through queer joy, pain, and resilience. Their rendition of “Sweet Transvestite” from Rocky Horror Picture Show was equal parts provocative and reverent, nodding to the lineage of queer performers who have long carved out space in underground theatre. Following that, Jackal stunned with “I’m Not My Father’s Son” from Kinky Boots, a song that speaks to the complex intersections of gender, family, and identity. And then came another memorable exchange of the night. As Jackal stood center stage in the emotional aftermath of their number, Robert—angel-winged—approached, delivering a line that felt unscripted and yet perfectly timed: “Robby boy, we’re the same—you and me. Robert from heaven, meet Jack from BC.” To which Robert proudly replied, “Let’s make some art.” It was camp, it was spiritual, it was cinematic, and most importantly, it was real. This exchange crystallized what Amplify Origins is all about: radically different artists, with wildly divergent styles, coming together to find common ground in the act of creation.

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)

Jackal’s later performance—an expressive, Gaga-inspired piece—leaned fully into their drag style and origins as they lip synced recent hits from Gaga’s Mayhem era like “Perfect Celebrity.” It was commanding, a perfect closing loop to a night that embraced the weird, the wild, and the wondrous.

What stood out most about Amplify Origins: Freedom wasn’t just the strength of the individual performances, but how well the artists used the theatre setting as an incubator for experimentation. They were polished performances tailored for the theatre. They were questions asked in real time. They were possibilities. The use of props, lighting, ritual, drag, food, and cultural heritage turned the performance into a multi-sensory narrative. One moment you were laughing; the next, you were on the verge of tears. And that’s what makes this incubator program feel so vital. It gives artists permission to try, to test, and to transcend.

Beyond the performances, the spirit of community carried through to the pre-show celebration. The gallery spaces were transformed into a vibrant art party where audience members could make their own stickers, browse and buy from local artisans and designers, and connect directly with Calgary’s creative scene. It was a collaborative ecosystem, emphasizing that the arts thrive when the community is invited in.

The Arts Commons TD Incubator isn’t just preparing artists to exist in the industry, it’s preparing them to lead with vision, to trust their weirdest ideas, and to bring people along for the ride. It’s about nurturing more than talent. It’s about cultivating voices.

And after a night like Amplify Origins: Freedom, it’s clear that these voices aren’t just emerging, they’re already reshaping what the future of Canadian performance can look like. If you are a musician or artist interested in applying for their 2026 cohorts, Arts Commons is now accepting applications until June 30, 2025. Click here for more information.

Photo credit: Shannon Johnston (@me_onlylouder)